Chapter 41: More Than Meets The Eye
Sitting in the first seat on the right side of her father, directly across from Marianna, who sat glaring at her from the left side of the dining table, Eira felt as though she were caught in a silent battle of wills. The air around the table was charged, thick with unspoken resentment. The soft clinking of silverware against china was the only sound as she carefully picked up her fork and took a small bite, acutely aware of Marianna’s gaze piercing into her. Even Eliot noticed, though he chose to ignore it—much like Eira had been doing since she came downstairs.
After eating a few more spoonfuls, she decided it was time. Dropping her fork, she stared straight at Marianna. "Is there something you want to say? If you do, say it. I don’t appreciate you staring at me like you want to bite and claw at me across the table," Eira said, her voice low but steady, carrying a mocking undertone.
Marianna’s glare became fiercer, but she forced herself to calm down and replied, "You have changed a lot since your accident, Ephyra. You’ve become so disrespectful to your elders and—"
"Ephyra, how’s your studies going?" Eliot interrupted. "Are you improving? I saw your previous exams, and they were all average, which I wasn’t thrilled to see."
Isn’t it your fault? Eira thought, but she smiled at Eliot and nodded emphatically. "You don’t have to worry, Father. I know my previous results weren’t pleasing, so I’m working extra hard. I promise you I’ll top the class this time. Alright?"
Eliot smiled at her confidence and chuckled, nodding approvingly.
They resumed eating, but Marianna, who had been ignored, gripped her fork tightly.
Eira counted the seconds in her mind, her lips curving slightly. After almost a minute, she straightened up and turned to Eliot. Hesitating, she said, "Father?"
"Hm?" Eliot responded, still eating.
She placed her fork down and adopted a shy, slightly fearful expression. "Uhm... there’s something I’d like to ask you about Myra’s punishment."
Eliot paused, his fork hovering mid-air as he looked at her, curiosity and annoyance flickering in his eyes. "What about Myra’s punishment?"